Ask me what designer I’d most like to wear and own, and I’d unhesitatingly reply: Carmen Marc Valvo. His gorgeous, elegant, red carpet gowns and elegant dresses, have been the fodder of my fantasies of a different, more glamorous life, for years.

For the first time in a while, Designer Carmen Marc Valvo returned to the tents to present his Fall/ Winter 2013 collection at Lincoln Center. As snow softly fell outside, coating the plaza with white, the collection inside was channeling the alluring, haunting “denizens of the night,” dark shadows, moonlight sonatas (with classical harpsichord music as part of the runway soundtrack) and rock & roll (models also walked to Stevie Nicks’ Edge of 17 ).

All of these inspirations were served up in a melange of leather, lace, fur and and other luxe fabrics. The masterfully-mixed fabrics and styles, plus the never disappointing display of red carpet gowns in rich fabrics, were beautiful but made modern. The designs were not surprisingly, mostly done in black. Out of the 33 looks, the only ones with any color were a red leather gown, a cassis chinchilla vest and feathered fox coat, a silk and wool gown, cutaway halter brocade gown, and a silk taffeta blouse all in ivory, and a cut-out grape leather embroidered cocktail dress. But black is the color of the season, and if you’re a celebrity or an urbanite, it’s the color of choice, every season, for every reason, of every year.

One of the features of this runway show for Fall and Winter 2013, was Valvo’s new HH Brown Calzature shoe collection that I saw just days earlier at the HH Brown launch for a Børn Handbag line. The footwear collection features sexy, high heeled patent mary janes, elegant, “Audrey-esque” pointed toe pumps, suede ankle boots (high, but not so high you would twist your ankle running for a cab) and red carpet/ evening-ready ankle strap sandals with sheer inserts.

With luxurious fabrics such as mink, fox, chinchilla, alligator, cashmere, patent leather, silk, leather and lace, plus a plethora of beads, embroidery, and patent leather, and elbow-length gloves, you can’t help but realize that Carmen Marc Valvo screams elegance from every piece. But to show his edgier side and perhaps appeal to younger women (Valvo’s models were seemingly, not past high school), the hair was slightly textured featuring an ombre bright neon on the ends (thanks to Ted Gibson) and the dramatic red lips against pale skin was created by the talented James Boehmer for NARS.

That’s pure rock & roll!

Here is the advicesisters’ video of the finale. Rock & Roll or denizen of the night — which looks would you choose?

Alison Blackman Dunham aka. “Advice Sister Alison” and “The Advice Sisters” is a writer, photographer, online advisor, and lifestyles consultant. She offers her readers a unique perspective on life, in print, in person and through the camera lens. Her focus is on advice, beauty, fashion, lifestyles, relationships and things that help make life easier, more successful and more fun. Follow Alison on Twitter @advicesisters, @leatherlaceadv & @RoadGypsiesBook. Also find her on her advice website Leather and Lace Advice http://www.leatherandlacespice.com

Who is Alison Blackman?

Alison Blackman Dunham aka. “Advice Sister Alison” and “The Advice Sisters” is a writer, photographer, online advisor, and lifestyles consultant. She offers her readers a unique perspective on life, in print, in person and through the camera lens. Her focus is on advice, beauty, fashion, lifestyles, relationships and things that help make life easier, more successful and more fun. Follow Alison on Twitter @advicesisters, @leatherlaceadv & @RoadGypsiesBook. Also find her on her advice website Leather and Lace Advice http://www.leatherandlacespice.com Read More…

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